The Olympic Flame visited London - the 23rd city to greet it on its great journey across five continents - on Saturday, 26 June 2004, for the first time since 1948.

The rain did not prevent thousands of Londoners and visitors to the city from patiently waiting alongside the Olympic Flame's route to cheer the 140 Torchbearers, who included celebrities from the worlds of sports, art and business, as well as ordinary folks, such as 93-year-old Fauja Singh, who runs marathon races for charitable causes, actor Sir Ian MCKELLEN, known from his many years in theatre and cinema, Sebastian COE, Heather MILLS-MCCARTNEY, Matthew PINSENT, Kriss AKABUSI, and Sir Richard BRANSON. They ran for roughly 48 kilometres across eleven municipal districts of Great Britain's capital. London has hosted the Olympic Games of 1908 and 1948.

ATHENS 2004 representative George BOLOS delivered the Flame at Heathrow Airport to Sylvia DISLEY, who had participated in the 1948 London Games. The welcome ceremony was held in the royal lounge at Heathrow Airport, ordinarily used to greet heads of state. This show the importance the British have given the Flame's visit to their country.

London Mayor Ken LIVINGSTON said: "The Flame's arrival is a great honour for the Torchbearers, for London, and for Great Britain. London is a city where the world comes together. Nearly every nation that will be participating in the Athens Games is represented by a community that will be cheering the athletes in August".

The Torch Relay began from Wimbledon. British track legend, Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four-minute mile barrier, handed the ATHENS 2004 Flame to current champion Tim Henman, cheered by 9,000 spectators.

Jonathan EDWARDS, the great triple-jumper, then brought the Flame to the seat of the British Olympic Committee. In cooperation with ATHENS 2004, municipal authorities prepared a series of events to celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay. Notable among participants were more than 100 schools whose students painted banners around the theme of the Flame's reception. The students' works decorated the Torch Relay route.

The Olympic Flame passed significant monuments and characteristic sites of the British metropolis, such as Wimbledon, Buckingham, Hyde Park, Big Ben, Chinatown, Oxford Street, Greenwich, Piccadilly Circus, Victoria & Albert Museum, Soho, Brixton, Trafalgar Square, the Mall, London Bridge, Saint Paul's Cathedral, and the Cutty Sark, the famous 19th century tall ship that now serves as a museum. Other than Torchbearers, traditional London transport means were also used to carry the Flame, such as a black London cab, a red double-decker bus and a rowboat that ferried the Flame across the Thames.

The ceremonies peaked with the Flame's arrival to the Mall, where the Altar was lit by Britain's greatest Olympic medallist, Sir Steve Redgrave, who had won five gold medals in Olympic Games in the sport of rowing. In an address during the ceremony, Princess Anne said: "As the Flame continues on its journey to Greece we wish the best to the Athens Olympic Games". As the Altar was being lit, the Red Arrows, the RAF's acrobatic wing, performed complex maneuvers overhead. According to estimates released by local authorities, more than 80,000 people were gathered at the scene, where a concert was given with such well-known musicians as Rod Stewart and the legendary James Brown.

The Flame visited Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday, 27 June and Rome on Monday, 28 June.

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and his TREFOR Match Racing Team clinched victory today at the Energa Sopot Match Race, Poland, the 10th stage and World Championship Event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).

There was no stopping current, and five-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar today at the Energa Sopot Match Race as he swiftly dispatched his Quarter Final opponent Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) in three straight wins.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) continues to address concerns and is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of all athletes who will be competing in the upcoming Aquece Rio, Olympic Test Event and the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Veteran Polish match racer and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski skilfully played the gusty conditions today to lead the twelve strong field of teams at the end of Day 2 of Qualifying at the 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race.